Well fluid flow controlling device



J. D. NlxoN 2,245,008

Filed Dec. 50, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet l `lune l0, 1941.

l WELL FLUID FLOW CONTROLLING -DEVICE 4 Sheets-Shea; 2

J. D. NIXON WELL FLUID FLow CONTROLLING DEVICE Filed Dec. 30, '1940 Junel0, 1941.

Jung 10, 1941. J. D. NlxoN 2,245,008

WELL FLUID FLOW CONTROLLING DEVICE June 10, 1941. 1 D. NlxQN I 2,245,008

WELL FLUID FLOW CONTROLLING DEVICE Filed Dec. 50, 1940v 4 Sheets-Sheet 4I li Patented June 10, 1941 WELL FLUllD FLOW CONTROLLING DEVICE Jeddy D.Nixon, Houston, Tex., assignor of onehalf to Wilson Supply Company,Houston, Tex., a corporation of Texas Application December 30, 1940,Serial No. 372,238

13-Claims. (Cl. 10S-231) This invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in well fluid iiow controlling devices.

This application involves certain improvements upon the apparatus setforth in my co-pending applications, Serial No. 304,684, filed November16, 1939; and Serial No. 322,065, filed March 4, 1940.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved Well flowingdevice including a springimpelled valve operating member arranged to beheld out of valve operating position by a weight bar, whereby saidmember is released` when the -bar is lifted and automatically actuatesthe valve to admit lifting fluid.

An upwardly flowing column of fluid exerts a lifting action on anymember suspended therein due to what is termed skin friction which isthe tendency for the flowing fluids to cling to the body suspendedtherein and this is true where a weight bar is suspended on a wire linein a well to operate a. valve either of the type shown in my Patent No.2,171,480, or of the type shown in my co-pending application, Serial No.322,065. Due to the fact that all the lifting fluid and well fluidexpelled from the well must pass through the tubing around the weightbar, the skin friction of said weight bar together with the high speedof the travel of said fluid will pick up or lift said bar and thislifting action together with the tension in said wire line will liftsaid bar from about a few inches to possiblyseveral hundred feet. Also,the pressure or velocity of the fluid may be sufiicient to only pick upsaid weight bar a very slight distance before the weight of the barreturns it to its original position and this action will give a bouncingor rapid reciprocation ofsaid bar which is very fatiguing to the line aswell as has a tendency to kink or unnecessarily bend said wire, whichbrings about strain, damage and final breaking thereof. Further, thisbouncing or rapid reciprocation of the bar causes pounding thereof onthe valve which will damage said valve, as well as the lower end of saidbar, loosen the threaded connections of the bar and may even uncouplesaid threaded joints. Of course, any damage or breakage to the valve,wire line, or excessive damage to the bar, or the uncoupling of said barwill necessitate the removal and replacement or repair thereof. In sucha case to remove these elements it becomes necessary to pull the tubingand Whenever it becomes necessary to remove the tubing from the well, italways requires special equipment and additional labor and expense tothe proper operation of the well, as well as loss of production, all ofwhich increases the well overhead and reduces the returns had from theWell.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved liftingfluid inlet valve and lactuating means therefor so arranged that theactuating means may :be releasably attached to the operating element ofsaid valve, whereby said actuating means is connected to said valve butmay Ibe readilyreleased or disconnected therefrom when and as often asdesired.

Another important object of the invention is to provide an improvedlifting fluid inlet valve and Vactuating means therefor so constructedthat when said actuating means is operating or surface operatingmechanism and for stretch of said wire line, which wire line may be froma few hundred feet to many .thousands of feet long, and also temperaturechanges affecting said wire line. Also, this adjusting means should besubstantially automatic so as to take care of any of these conditions asthey arise after said Weight bar is connected to the valve.

A. further important object of the invention is to provide an improvedconnecting means on the lower end of an actuating member which is soarranged that while the actuating member may be connected to the valveuntil it is desired to release the same, that an automatic adjustment isobtained, whereby the connection has sumcient iiexibility as tocompensate for any inaccuracyin the operation of the wire line supportfor said actuating member, temperature conditions in the well, or othercircumstances which would disenlgage said actuating member from thefluid inlet valve or place an unnecessary strain on the Wire line ifthis connection Was positive and rigid.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means forreleasing trapped lifting fluid and free gas when the operating memberis depressed to permit the inlet valve to close; said means beingarranged to close when the inlet valve is opened.

A particular object of the invention is to provide an improved pressureuid inlet valve and operating means therefor which are so constructedthat a free-acting and substantially trouble-free flow controllingdevice is provided, whereby all previous difficulties encountered by adevic'e of this type are eliminated and overcome.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved well flowingdevice having a lifting uid inlet and closure means therefor, togetherwith means for normally holding the closure means open and operable fromthe surface of the Well to release said closure means', whereby thelifting fluid will actuate the closure means and shut off the admissionof lifting iiuicl.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafterdescribed, together with other features and objects of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood vfrom the followingspecification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which anexample of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation, of theupper portion of a well;

Figure 2 is a continuation of Figure 1, showing the middle portion of awell, and a valve and lactuating member therefor constructed inaccordance with the invention, mounted therein;

Figure 3 is a continuation of Figure 2, showing the lower portion of thewell;

Figure 4 is an enlarged detailed view, showing the upper portion of theow device in an open position and with the actuatingbar disengagedtherefrom;

Figure 5 is a continuation of Figure 4, showing Athe middle portion ofsaid device;

Figure 6 is a continuation of Figure 5, showing the lowerfend of saiddevice; y

Figure 7 is an isometric view of the upper slips forming the upper partof the clutch member in the lower end of the actuating bar;

. Figure 8 is a similar view showing the lower slips which form thelower portion of said clutch member;

Figure 9 is an enlarged, detailed view showing how the operating bar isattached to said iiow device;

Figure 10 is a similar view showing the operating bar in its lowerposition and the flow device in its closed position; n

Figure 11 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view taken on the line II-Ilof Figure 5;

Figure` 12 is a similar view, taken on the line I2-I2 of Figure 10;

Figure 13 is a longitudinal, vertical view taken through the clutchmember;

Figure 14 is a horizontal, cross-sectional View taken on the line l4-l4of Figure 4;

Figure 15 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view taken on the line I5-l5of Figure 13; and

Figure 16 is a similar view taken on the line |6-l6 of Figure 13.

In the drawings, the numeral 20 designates the usual well casing(Figures 1, 2 and 3) which has a well tubing string 2l depending axiallytherethrough. The upper end of the casing is screwed into the usualcasing head 22, mounted upon the ground level, and the upper end of thetubing string is supportedV within the casing head in the regularmanner. All of the aboveground structure may be substantially 'the sameas that at some distance below the lower end of said casing. A suitableliner 23, either perforated or Plain, may be provided on the lower en dof said casing, or the lower. portion of thewell bore be'- low saidcasing may be open or .uncased lower end of said tubing 2l may terminatewithin said casing, or in said liner, or in said uncased portion of saidwell bore, or below said liner; and preferably a` suitable screen orbull plug 24 is provided onthe lower end of said tubing string. Theusual standing or foot valve 25 is mounted within the lower end of saidtubing above the bull plug 24.

'I'he tubing string 2l is preferably provided with a number of iiow orkick-off valves 26, intermediate its ends and in spaced relation to thestanding fluid level of the well, as pointed out in mylabove-mentionedpatents and co-pending applications. The construction of these iiowvalves may be the same as that taught in my Patent No. 2,171,480, or anyother structure suitable f or the purpose. the well iiuid level in saidcasing 20 and in said well tubing 2i down. to the point or level atwhich it is desired to operate or produce the well. In some instances,one of or substantially the same flow valve is used as a producing oroperating valve, but in other wells where it becomes necessary toproduce said well fluid at a point below the end of said casing string20, or in the liner 23 mounted in the lower end of said casing, or belowa perforated portion of said casing string, or of said liner, the usualkick-off valve 26 or producing valve may not be used at this point.

Therefore, it is necessary to set a packer 21,-

preferably of my own construction such as is shown in my Patent No.2,171,479, although any desired packer or other seal-oil` device may beused. It is preferred to mount the packer 2li` in said tubing stringandto set said packer as low in said casing string as is possible, inaccordance with the position of said liner 23 or of the above-mentionedperforations (not shown).

An elongate, cylindrical valve 28 is mounted in said tubing just abovesaid packer 21 and while at first glance this valve seems to diifersomewhat from my usual kick-off valves, its basic principle of action isthe same. 'I'his valve 28 is very similar in action and construction tothe valve shown in my co-pending application, Serial No. 322,065. 'Iheupper end of said valve 28 is provided with a cylindrical collar or cap29 vhaving an internally screw-threaded -box 30 on its upper end forreceiving a depending, externally screw-threaded, pin 3| of said tubing2l for connecting the upper end of said valve into said tubing string.'Ihe lower end of said cap 29 is provided with a box 32, similar to saidbox 30, for engaging an upstanding, externally screwthreaded, pin 33 onthe upper end of an upper valve body or head 34. The lower portion ofthis body is provided with an externally screwthreaded pin 35 forreceiving an internally screwthreaded box 36 upon the upper end of anelongated, cylindrical sleeve 31 and this sleeve has a similarlythreaded box 38 on its lower end for receiving one end of an externallyscrew-threaded lower body or cross plug 39. A cylindrical collar 40,similar to the collar 29, is threaded onto the lower portion of saidcross plug 39 and has an internally screw-threaded box 4I on its lowerend for receiving the threaded pin 42 on the upper end of a portion ofsaid tubing string to connect the lower portion of said tubing to saidvalve 28. A relatively soft metal packing ring 43 is inserted betweenthe upper end of said upper valve body 34 and the lower end `of said ycollar 29, between the lower end of said body 'I'he 75 and the upper endof said sleeve 31, and between the lower end of said sleeve and theupper end of 'I'hese valves serve to lower said bore 2,245,oos

said collar 40 for sealing these joints and connections to preventleakage at said connections. Thus, it will be seen that said valve 28may be readily connected in said tubing string.

The upper valve body 34 is provided with an internal cylindrical chamber44. A plurality of radial internally screw-threaded ports 45 extendoutwardly through the walls of said body from said chamber' and providecommunication betweenfthefannularspace within said casing and saiditubingffstring through said chamber 44. When said ports 45 are opened(Figures 5 and IIL-pressure fluid-may enter said tubing string fromftheIannular space of said casing. It ls preferredto locate said ports in anequi-distantly spaced relation around said chamber and all in thesame'horizontal plane. However, while this valve has been shown anddescribed with three ports,'one or more ports may be used and arrangedas desired. In some instances, where a great number of ports areprovided, said body 34 may be elongated and the ports formed in groupsof one to four ports each and each group will preferably be on aseparate horizontal plane.

Each port 45 is provided with a valve cage or insert unit 46 threadedthereinto and each cage has a co-axial passageway 41 extendingtherethrough. The inner end of each passageway 41 is formed with aground, tapered seat 48, so that a ball valve 49 may be mounted in thepassageway of each valve cage 46, for engaging this seat and closingsaid passageway, whereby each of said ports will be closed. The outerend of each passageway is internally screw-threaded, so as to receive aperforated button or cap 50 to limit the outward movement of said ballvalves 49 from saidI seats 48.

Whenever pressure iiuid is introduced into said annular space of saidcasing string and iiows through said passageways 41 and encounters said.balls 49 in said opened ports 45, the passage of said pressure fluidthrough said opened ports will carry said balls onto their respectiveseats 48, thereby closing said opened ports as well as shutting off saidtubing from said annular space. It will be noticed in Figures and 12,that when said balls are seated so as to close said passageways, aportion thereof protrudes into said chamber 44 from said seat.

' The lower end of said chamber 44 is countersunk (Figures 5 and 10), soas to form an enlarged bore 5| for receiving the upper end of a tubularmandrel 52 which has a sliding iit within Itwill be seen that a shoulder53 is formed on the upper end of said mandrel 52 to limit thetelescoping of said upper end within said bore 5|. The lower end of saidmandrel is internally upset, so as to form a shoulder 54 that has areduced, depending pin 55 for telescoping within a shallow, annular sumpor recess 56 in the upper surface of said lower cross plug 39. The lowerend of said sump 56 is provided with one or more passageways 51extending through said cross plug to the lower end thereonso that acontinuous passage is formed from said passageways 41 of said valvecages 46, through said chamber 44, into said mandrel 52, through saidsump 56, into said passageway 51 and delivered ing string to within ashort distance of the upper end of the standing valve mounted in thelower end of said tubing.

below said cross plug body 39 and inside of said that this tail pipeextend down within said tub- The upper end of said socket 58 is providedwith one or more longitudinally extending passageways 6| extendingtherefrom to the upper side of said cross plug body 39, so that acontinuous passage is formed from said tail pipe 60, through said socket58, into said passageway 6|, through said sleeve 31 outside of saidtubular mandrel 52, into a plurality of longitudinal channels 62extending through said valve body 34, onto the upper side of said valve28 and within said tubing string. It is pointedout that the sump 56 andpassageway 51 do not open into or connect with the socket 58 andpassageway 6|. The upper end of said chamber 44 is countersunk andinternally screw-threaded to receive an annular sub or guide 63 havingan axial bore 64 extending therethrough. The lower portion of said bore64 is counterbored to form an enlarged bore or chamber 65 ,and a ground,tapered seat 66 is pro'- vided on the shoulder between said bore 64 andsaid chamber `65.

The upper end of said guide 63 is provided with an externallyscrew-threaded pin 61 for receiving a coupling member 68 having aninternal chamber 69 formed therein, which is provided with a pluralityof radial Yports or openings 10 to provide communication between saidchamber and the inside of said tubing. The upper end of said couplingmember 68 is provided with an upstanding pin 1|, similar to said pin 61,and having a bore 12, similar to said bore 64. This pin 1| is externallyscrew-threaded for receiving the threaded lower end of an upstanding,elongated guide or protector sleeve 13, that preferably extendsco-axially within said tubing string 2| and spaced therefrom. The upperend of said sleeve 13 is provided with a plurality of radial ears orlugs 14 for spacing and maintaining the co-axial alignment of saidsleeve within said tubing string.

It will be apparent `in Figures 2, 4, 9 and 10, that only the lowerportion of an actuating member or weight bar 15 depends within saidsleeve 13. Nearly all wells give off a certain amount of free orformation gas from the producing formation, or other gas sands near theformation, which flows up said tubing below said cross plug body 39 andenters said duct 51 and flows therethrough, into said mandrel 52,through said chamber 44 of said valve body 34, into said chamber 69 ofsaid coupling 65, and out through said openings 10 into said tubingabove said valve. It is pointed out that this free gas is prevented fromaccumulating in said tubing below said valve 26 and restricting theinflow of well fluid from said formation. Also, by providing saidopenings 10 in said chamber 69, said free gas does not enter said guidesleeve 13, nor contact said weight bar 15, nor interfere with theoperation thereof.

An elongated, cylindrical dart 16 is mounted in and extends through thelower portion of said sleeve 13, into the bore 12 of said pin 1|,through said coupling member 68, into said guide 63, through the chamber44 and into the upper portion of said tubular mandrel 52. The middleportion of said dart 16 is reduced to form an upstanding, co-axial pinor rod 11 and a flat, annular head 1.8 is suitably mounted near theupper end of said rod 11, so that the downward travel of` said rod andsaid weight bar 15 may be terminated by the underside of said headengaging the upper end of said pin 61. The lower portion of said dart 16is provided with an axial bore 19 and the upper end of said bore isprovided with a plurality of radial outlet ports 80 extending from saidbore to the outer surface of said dart.

vAs will be seen in Figures 5 and 10, a portion of said dart isexternally upset or thickened, so as to form an annular boss oractuating member 8| with a tapered guide surface 82 on its upper edge.It is pointed out that the guide surface 82 engages the ball valves 49upon the upward travel of said dart 16 and gradually forces said balls49 off their seats 48, until said boss 8| engages and holds the balls intheir open position (Figures 5 and 11). Of course, upon the downwardtravel of said dart, the reverse action takes place and said balls arepermitted to gradually engage their seats, due to the taper of saidguide surface 82. The lower end of the dart is provided with a pluralityof spaced short stops or lugs 84 and a suitable coiled spring 85 ismounted within said tubular mandrel 52. The lower end of said springrests upon the internal, upset portion or shoulder 54 of said tubularmandrel and the upper end of said spring engages beneath said stops 84,so that at all times said dart is under the tension of said spring 85.This spring serves to move said dart upwardly to open said ball valves41, whenever said weight bar is lifted.v The tapered shoulder 8 6,formed between the lower portion of said dart and said rod 11, engagesthe seat 66 to limit the upward travel of said dart and to seal oiT thechamber 44 from said chamber 69 and the tubing above said valve 28,

Attention is` called to Figures-4 and 9, wherein it will be seen that|the lower end of said weight bar 15 is provided with an internallyscrewthreaded box 81 for receiving an externally screw-threaded,upstanding pin 88 on the upper end of a connecting sub 89 that has. asimilar pin 90 depending therefrom for engaging within 'an internallyscrew-threaded box 9| on the upper end of a tubular sleeve 92. The lowerend of this sleeve 92 is provided with an internally screw-threaded box93, similar to the box 9|, for receiving an externally screw-threadedupstanding pin 94 of a short sub 95 which has an axial bore 96 extendingtherethrough. An elongated, cylindrical pin or rod 91 extendsupwardlythrough the bore 96 of the sub 95 and the upper end of this rod91 has a fiat annular head 98 suitably mounted thereon, so that a coiledspring 99 may be linterposed around said lrod 91 between the undersideof the head 98'and the upper endA out of awell. vThis spring also servesother purposes which will be more fully4 hereinafter described.

The lower end of `the sleeve |04 has an internally screw-threaded box|05 for receiving an externally screw-threaded, upstanding pin |06 onthe upper end of a nipple |01. The lower endkof this nipple visexternally tapered at |08 for vfacilitating the loweringof saidf weightbar 15 and its entrance into the :kick-off valves 26.

. The nipplel01 also has an axial bore |09 exis provided on its loweredge with a long tapending therefrom for engaging in the upper end i ofa sub or collar |0|, similar to the sub y95, and the lower end of thissub |0I is provided lwith a depending, externally screw-threaded pin 02'for engaging within an internally screwthreaded box |03 on the upperend of a tubular It will be seen that while the subs |0| and 95 abut,they are not connected together except by a medium' of the rod 91.extending upwardly from the sub |0| through the sub 95 and the spring 99bearing against the upper surface of the pin 94 and the undersurface ofthe head 98 connected to said rod 91, which makes a flexible orresilient'connection between said subs. The spring'99is of sufficientstrength as to hold said subs 95 and |0| together when pered guidesurface ||3 and on its upper edge with a short tapered guide surface I|4. vA clutch assembly is positioned at this point within the sleeve |04and co-acts with-the tapered guide surfaces ||3 and ||4. This clutchassembly' is composed of arcuate slips |5 and |6.

'I'he lower slip segments ||5 are provided on their upper portion withan external, tapered guide surface ||1 to co-act with the tapered guidesurface ||3 of said upset portion ||2 and also an internal, taperedsurface H8. Thelower portion of said slip segments are provided with anannular groove or recess ||9 'for receiving a retaining and aligningring 20, which holds Said slip segments on substantially a parallelplane, whereby they operate uniformly and as a unit. This ring may be asnap type ring or cut in segments to fit in said groove. It is pointedout in Figures 4, 9, 13, l5 and 16, that thefinner surface of this ring|20 is spaced 'from the bottom of said groove ||9, so as to allow saidslip segments to expand and the outer surface of said ring acts as aguide for said slip segments ||5. A coil spring |2I is mounted upon theupper end of said pin |06 and the upper end of the spring bears againstthe lower edge of said slip segments to support the same and exert an-upward tension thereon, whereby said segments are always under anupward tension and theiry outer guide surfaces ||1 `aco-act with theguide surface ||3.

The lower end of the slip segments ||6 are externally tapered at |22 soas to t within the `slip segments ||5 and co-act with the internalguide-surface 8 thereof. These slip segments ||6 are provided with twospaced ribs |23, sov as to form an annular groove or recess |24therelbetween for receiving' a ring |25, similar to the `ring 20, which`serves the same purpose for the slip ysegments ||'6 'as' the ring |2-0serves for 'the slip segments |I5. A coiled spring |26, 'similar to thespring |2|, is interposed between the -lower end of the-'pin |02 and theupper side 'of the uppermost rib |23, so as to exert a down- |I|, sothat when vsaid head'is engaged within said slip' segments 6, as shownin Figure 9.

these two surfaces are contiguous throughout their lengths. It will beseen that the head H flares upwardly, so that when said weightl bar isdropped down and the head IIU is engaged within the slips ||6, theweight bar is attached to said dart 16.

In operation, when said valve 28 has been assembled and made up in saidtubing string 2| and said well fluid level has been lowered by theproduction thereof, by the use of the kick-off valves 26, or any othersatisfactory means, as taught in my above-mentioned patents and copendedon the lower end of a wire line |30 extending up said tubing string andout of said casing head 22 to a suitable control mechanism (not shown).This control mechanism may be of any desired structure, although Iprefer to use one of the control mechanisms such as is taught in myabove-mentioned patents or copending applications. lowered approximatelyto the position shown in Figures 2 and 4, which is the open position ofsaid dart 16 in said valve 28 due to the tension of said coiled spring85. With the dart in this v upper position, said ball valves 49 will beheld ofi their seats 48 (Figures 5 and 11) so that said pressure fluidin said casing 20 above said valve 28 will force the well fluidremaining in said casing between the lowermost kick-off valve 26 andsaid valve 28, through the passageways 41 of said valve cages 46, intosaid chamber 44, through said tubular mandrel 52, into said sump 56 ofthe cross plug body 39, thr'ough said pas-` sageway 51 of said crossplug and into said tubing 2| below said cross plug outside of said tailpipe 60. This admitted well fluid will be forced downwardly in saidtubing around the tail pipe to the lower end thereof and the pressurefluid from the annular space of said casing will follow this same pathof flow. Of course, this well fluid together with the well fluid in saidtubing below said valve 28, and the well fluid in said tail pipe 68 andin said valve, will be forced or displaced upwardly into said tubingabove said valve and will lift the well fluid .in said tubing. Thisupward path of flow, which also will be followed by the pressure fluid,is through said tail pipe 68, into said socket 58, through saidpassageway 6|, into said sleeve 31 around said tubular mandrel 52, upthrough said longitudinal' passageway -62 and out on top of said valve28 in-said tubing around said sleeve 13. The pressure fluid from saidannular space of said casing, following this same path of flow asoutlined for said well fluid, will lift said well fluid up said tubingstring to the usual cross T |3| and into the usual flow line |32 whereit is led to a separator (not shown), a storage tank (not shown), or anyother suitable disposal as desired.

It is pointed out, that a perforated band or collar |33 is mounted onsaid upper valve body 34 between the lower end of said upper connectingcollar 29 and the upper end of said sleeve 31, so as to fully cover theouter ends of said threaded ports 45 to protect the same and prevent anyextraneous matter entering said passageway 41 of said valve cages 46 andclogging the same, or said perforated caps 50, or causing damage to saidballs 49, or some other mechanism of said valve 28.

When said ball valves 49 areheld open by the boss 8| on said dart 16,said tapered shoulder 86 is engaging said seat 66, so that the fluidentering through said passageway 41 of said valve l pendingapplications; said weight bar is sus- This weight bar 15 will be cages46 will flow down around said dart, as well as into said ports 80,through said bore 19 of said dart, and out the lower end thereof. Thepin 11 on the upper end of said dart, 16 is provided intermediate itsends with a plurality of elongated, longitudinal, shallow slots orgrooves |35. These grooves are so placed on said pin that when said dartis in its upper position (Figure 5), the lower ends of said grooves areeven with or above the upper edge of said pin 61 of said guide 63 andthe upper ends of said grooves are below or in the lower portion of the,bore 12 of said pin 1|. When said dart 16 is in its lower position(Figure 10), the lower ends of said grooves |35 are below said seat 56on the lower endof said bore 64 and the upper ends of said groovesextend above the upper edge of said bore 64 and into said chamber 69,whereby a passageway is thus provided from said chainber 65, throughsaid grooves |35, to said chamber 69. This passageway thus formed willprevent the accumulation of free or formation gas in said valve body 34and in said chamber 65 for two reasons or purposes. First, by ventingsaidgas, said tubing below said valve 28 and said tail pipe 60 may fillwith well fluid, so that upon the next actuation or opening of saidvalve 28, a full load or charge of well fluid is obtained; second, toprevent the accumulation of formation gas, which would interfere withthe operation of said dart 16. 4

After the valve 28 has been operated, the normal or inoperative positionof the dart 16 is its lower position (Figure 10) and this is reached bythe setting down of said weight bar 15 upon said head 18 of said pin 11,so that the pressure fluid flowing through the passageways 41 closes thevalves 49. It is pointed out that the slots |35 are so placed on saidstem 11 of said dart 16, as to bleed the free gas from said valve body34 when said dart is in its lower position. When said dart begins itsupward travel to open said ports 45, these slots |35 are closed as soonas their lower ends enter into said bore 64 of the guide 63 and thefurther escape or bleeding of free gas is terminated. At Ithis point oftravel, the balance of said stem 11 between said slots and said shoulder86 serves as a sliding plug in said bore 64, so that when said balls arepushed open by said guiding surface 82, the pressure fluid enteringthrough the open ports will assist .the spring 85 in lifting said dart16 to move the same into its upper position, to completely open saidports and seat this shoulder 86 against said seat Of course, when saidweight bar is lowered until the lower end of the nipple |81 engages theupper surface of head 18, the head ||8 and pin III will enter the bore|89 of said nipple and said head H0 will pass through said slipssegments ||5 and 6 and due to the matching tapers of said head and thebore |21 of said slip segments ||6, said weight bar will be locked tosaid pin III. Therefore, when said weight bar 15 is lifted to permit thespring 85 to push the dart 16 upwardly, this connection of said weightbar 15 to said dart may to some extent assist said spring 85 to movesaid dart 16 upwardly, although said spring exerts sufficient tension toreadily lift said dart without any assistance from` the weight bar. Infact, it is preferred lthat the weight bar be merely lifted so as toremove the weight of the bar `from the spring 85 and permit said springto function. When the well fluid has been lifted from below the valve 28and is flowing upwardly through the tubing 2|, the locking of saidweight bar to said dart will prevent the upwardly flowing-column offluid from having a tendency to lift said weight bar and give it areciprocating or fluttering action thereto and to said stem. Itispointed out that by so connecting said weight bar and said dart, thatany bouncing of the weight bar is eliminated and there will be no rapidopening and closing of said inlet ports or faulty operation of saidvalve, as well as any slack and tightening action being given to saidwire line |30 which would give a bending, twisting, kinking, orunnecessary working of said wire line throughout its length; and bypreventing this extra working of said wire line, a longer life thereofis obtained and expensive delays and repairs are eliminated. When theports are closed, the free gas escapes up the well tubing and when saidports are open, said free gas will be carried with the well fluid andthepressure fluid down in said tubing below said valve 28 and up saidtail or discharge pipe 60, l

into said tubing above said valve. It is pointed out that in initiallykicking off the well, said valve 28 is in its open position (Figure 5),so that all the well fluid in said casing below the loW- ermost kick-offvalve 26 flows or is forced through said valve 28, down into said tubingbelow said valve and upsaid tail pipe, as has already been described. l

If desired, the tubing below said packer 21 may be of a larger diameterthan the bottom of the tubing string, in order to provide an increasedfluid collecting chamber |31. Of course, this chamber will extend downto the standing valve 25, or at least below the lower end of the tailpipe 60.

Attention is called to well has been kicked off and is being produced,and when said ow valve 28 has been opened, the pressure lifting fluidentering said valve flows therethrough and is introduced into the upperend of said chamber |31 onto the upper surface of said well uid therein.This well fluid is displaced downwardly in said chamber and up into saidtail pipe 60, through said valve 28I and into said tubing string aroundsaid protector sleeve 13. As additional pressure fluid enters saidchamber |31 and builds up the pressure therein,

I said pressure fluid, forcing all well uid ahead of it, will follow thesame line of flow as said well fluid. I'hus when said pressure fluidreachesvthe lower end of said tail pipe 60 to exert its lifting n forceor action on the well fluid in the tail pipe,

this column vof well fluid is already flowing due to the above-set-outdisplacing action. It will be geen that the lifting force of saidpressure fluid is delivered beneath an upwardly flowing or moving columnof well uid, whereby there will not be any channelling, cutting, ordamaging of said well fluid, as there would be if said pressure fluidwere introduced down said tail pipe and into said chamber at thelowerend of said tail pipe.

In initially kicking off or beginning the production of wells, wherethere is a deep submergence of said bottom hole flow valve 28 in thewell fluid, one of my kick-off valves 26 (not shown) may be mounted insaid tubing string just above said flow valve; so that when there is toomuch well liquid in said fluid accumulating chamber |31, in said casing,or said well bore, and in said annular space of said casing above saidpacker, the ow valve 28 being normally open will admit well *luid andpressure fluid therethrough to displace well lluidfrom said chamber intosaid tublthe fact that after the n ing above said ow valve, until thecolumn of well fluid in said tubing, said flow valve and said tail pipebalances the desired operating pressure of pressure lifting fluid. Whenthey pressure or weight of the well fluid within said tubing and saidflow valve balances the operating pressure fluid, of course there willbe no more flow from said annular space of said casing string into saidflow valve and the operator at the surface will be unable to unload orkick off the well. Howe'Ver, when it is determined by preliminary surveythat such a condition will occur, one of my kick-off valves 25 is thenmounted in said tubing string just above the upper end of said actuatingweight bar 15, so that this bar could be picked up when theabove-mentioned point of balance has been reached to open this kick-ofivalve (not ,this kick-olf valve will admit pressure fluid to cut off theupper portion of the column of well uid standing in said tubing. Theadmittance of pressure fluid through this kick-oil valve will not onlycut off the column of well fluid at this point, but will lift thiscut-off portion or "slug" up and out of said well, as taught in myabove-mentioned patents and co-pending applications, and this lifting ofthe well fluid will lighten the column of well fluid in said tubing, sothat additional well fluid may rock or flow through said flow valve 28,until a point of balance is again reached. However, the column of wellfluid may now be so light that the pressure fluid is sufficient to owthe same although if a point of balance is again reached, the weight bar15 may again be pulled up into the kick-off valve 26 (not shown) and assoon as the cut-off portion or slug of well uid reaches the surface,said weight bar is again lowered to close saidkick-off valve, so thatadditional pressure fluid may build up in said tubing above said flowvalve. This operation may be repeated as often as is necessary and untilthe desired operating pressure can handle the well uid produced by saidproducing formation, and when this condition occurs, the pressure fluidwill flow through said valve into said chamber, onto the upper surfaceof the well fluid in said chamber tail pipe up and, out of said tubing,the weight bar 15 is dropped onto the flat head 18 of said stem 11(Figure 10) to move said dart 16 downwardly and release the balls 49, sothat the pressure uid entering said passageways 41 will carry said ballsonto their seats 48, thereby closing said passageways and terminatingthe admittance of pressure fluid into saidsflow valve 28.

When the weight bar 15 is dropped down onto the head |||l of said pinthe spring |28 will give and permit the slip segments H6 to retract topermit the entrance of said head H0 into and through said slip segmentsbecause they will expand as they move upwardly due to the tapered guidesurface |22 co-acting with Vthe tapered guide surface I8 of said slipsegments H5. 'Ihis retraction and expansion of said slip segments I I6will permit said head I0 to pass through said slip segments I I6 andafter said head has passed therethrough, the spring |26 will force saidslip segments back to their original position, -which locks said headtherein and connects said weight bar 15 to said dart 16. Thus, thisspring becomes a lock or holding spring. i

When it is desired to disengage the weight bar 15 from the dart 16, saidbar is pulled upwardly by means of the wire line |30 and due to thetension of the spring I2I, said spring 99 will be substantiallycompletely collapsed before said slip segments II5 move downwardlyagainst the tension of said spring I2 I. The slip segments I I6 willmove downwardly with the slip segments I I5 until the undersurface ofthe lowermost rib |23 contacts the upper guide surface I I4 of the upsetI|2 or substantially so, and due to the tapered guide surface I I3 beinggreater than the tapered surface II8, the slip segments II5 will expandfaster than the slip segments |I6, or rather the slip segments II5 moveoutwardly at a greater rate than they move downwardly; so that with aslight downward movement, said slip segments II5 and the lower portionof said slip segments I|6 expand sufficiently to allow the slightlytapered head to slide downwardly through said slips segments and IIS. Assoon as said head ||0 has moved out of the bore |21 of said slipsegments II6, said slip segments are free to move upwardly under thetension of said spring |2I, back to their original position, as shown inFigure 4. Immediately upon the release of said head ||0 from said slipssegments ||5 and IIS, the spring 99 expands to lift the head 98 and drawthe nipplel |01, the sleeve |04 and the sub I0| upwardly, until said subabuts the underside of the sub 95 and the parts will be approximately inthe position shown in Figures 4 and 5.

.Attention is called to the fact that the protector sleeve 13 isprovided throughout its length with a number of holes or perforations|40 drilled therein so that any sand or foreign matter falling into saidsleeve would be washed out and the accumulation thereof in said sleeveprevented, whereby any interference with the proper operation ormovement of said weight bar and said dart is eliminated. The spring 99also serves to form a resilient connection between the weight bar proper15 and the overshot assembly mounted on its lower end, so that shouldtoo great a pull be exerted on the wire line when it is only desired toopen the valve 28,',the spring 99 will partially collapse and permit thedart 16 to be operated without pulling the head I|0 from said slipssegments ||5 and |I6. Thus, it will be seen that the spring 99 servesthe two purposes of forming a resilient connection between the weightbar and "the overshot to allow for any inaccuracy in the operation ofthe wire line |30, as well as to hold the sub IOI and its partsdepending therefrom securely to the lower end of the weight bar when thesame is suspended vor moving in the well tubing. Attention is called tothe fact that the lweight 15 may be connected to and released from thehead I|0 of said pin III of the dart 16 as often and when desired,without any difficulty or damage to any of the parts. Also, thisinvention solves the problem of preventing the bouncing of the weightbar and the breakage of the supporting line;

It is pointed out that various changes and modifications of theinvention may be made as is necessary to accommodate the numerous andvarious producing conditions presented without departing from the spiritof the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a Well liquid flowing apparatus, the combination with a liftingfluid supply in a well liquid supply, of a valve normally open to admitlifting fluid to said supply and having means for conducting it to saidsupply of well liquid for displacing said Well liquid, means forconducting the displaced well liquid from said supply to the surface ofthe well, means operable from the surface of the well for actuating saidvalve to.said normal open position or to move to permit said valve toshut off theadmission of lifting fluid, surface operated means foractuating said surface operable means, and means for releasablyconnecting said surface operated means to said surface operable means.

2. A valve for a well fluid lifting apparatus including, an enclosurehaving a passage therein, inlet means for admitting lifting fluid tosaid passage, means for closing said passage above said inlet means,said passage closing means opening said inlet means when closing saidpassage, means for conducting lifting fluid downward from said passage,means operable from the surface of thewell for moving said passageclosing means to open the passage above said' inlet means and permit theclosing of said inlet means, and means for releasably connecting thesurface operating means to said passage closing means.

3. A valve for a well fluid lifting apparatus including, an uprightenclosure having a passage therethrough and a fluid outlet, a valve seatbelow said outlet, an inlet valve in the' enclosure below said seat,spring actuated means having a valve member engaging said seat and alsoengaging said inlet valve to hold it open, means operable from thesurface of the well for depressing said spring actuated means to unseatsaid member and to release the inlet valve, and means for releasablyconnecting said surface operated means to said spring actuated means.

4. A valve for a well fluid lifting apparatus including, an uprightenclosure having a fluid passage therein, an inlet valve for admittinglifting fluid to said passage, `spring actuated means engaging saidinlet valve and holding it open, means operable from the surface fordepressing said spring actuated means to release said inlet valve, andmeans for releasably connecting said surface operatedmeans to saidspring actuated means.

5. In a well liquid lifting system the combiF nation with, an eductionconductor` for conveying the liquids from a well, means for-accumulating a column of Well liquid, means for providing a liftingfluid conductor around the eduction conductor, of means operable fromthe surfaceV of the well to admit lifting fluid and conduct said liftingfluid tosaid well fluid, operated means for actuating the flung means,means for directing saidadmit fluid downwardly upon said column of wellliquid to displace said liquid upwardly into said eduction'conductor,and means for mechanically and releasably connecting said surfaceoperated meansto said fluid admitting means, whereby said connection maybe made without remo' 'ing the fluid admitting means from the well.

6. In a wellfluid lifting system the combination of, a packer mounted inthe well, a well liquid discharge pipe having its inlet a substantialdistance below the packer disposed around said pipe to provide a columnof well liquid, flow means having a lifting fluid inlet disposed abovesaid .packer and a conductor for conveying the admitted fluid below said.packer for displacing the well liquids downwardly, whereby said liquidsare discharged through said pipe, means for maintaining the inlet open,surface control means for releasing said maintaining means, whereby thepressure lifting fluid inlet may shut itself off, and means forreleasably connecting said surface control means to said maintainingmeans;

7. In a well fluid lifting system the combination of, an eduction pipe,a packer disposed around said pipe, a well liquid discharge pipe havingits inlet a substantial distance below the packer to receive a column ofwell liquids, flow means having a lifting fluid inlet disposed abovesaid packer and a conductor for conveying the admitted fluid below saidpacker for displacing the well liquids downwardly around said dischargepipe to its inlet, whereby the well liquids are expelled through thedischarge pipe into the eduction pipe through which it is lifted to thewell surface, means having a connection with the lifting fluid inlet forholding said inlet open,

' around said pipe, a Well fluid discharge pipe having its inlet asubstantial distan-ce below the packer to receive a column of wellliquids, flow means having la lifting fluid inlet disposed above saidpacker and the admitted fluid below the packer for displacing the wellliquids downwardly around said discharge pipe to its inlet, whereby thewell liquids are expelled through said discharge pipe into the eductionpipe through which it is lifted to the well surface, means having aconnection with the lifting fluid inlet for holding said inlet open,surface operated means for disengaging the holding means from saidlifting fluid inlet to permit the pressure lifting fluid to close saidinlet, the column of well liquids accumulating in said discharge pipewhile said inlet is closed, means for releasably connecting 1 saidsurface operated means to the holding means, whereby said surfaceoperated means may be connected to and disengaged from said holdingmeans when desired, and means for venting any free gas while the liquidsare accumulating and said inlet is closed.

9. A flow valve for a well fluid lifting system having a well flow pipein. a well `casing including, a body adapted to be 'connected into theflow pipe and having a bore and flow channels extending therethrough forconveying fluid, an inlet port in said -body connected to the bore foradmitting a lifting fluid to the bore to displace well fluid below saidbody through the flow channels thereof into said flow pipe, a closuremember for said port, means mounted in said bore for actuating saidclosure member, means operated from the surface for .operating theactuating.y means, and means carried thereby for releasably connectingsaid surface operated means to said actuating means.

10.*In a well fluid flowing device having a string of well tubingsuspended in -a well including', an elongate body havingconnectingcollars on each end thereof for connecting said body in thewell tubing string, an axial bore extending through said -body so as toform a passageway with said well tubing, a radial port in the upperportion of said body, a valve for said port adapt-- ed to be operatedfrom the bore of said body, operating means movable in said bore foroperating said valve, an elongated actuating member depending in saidWell tubing for actuating said operating means, means carriedl by saidactuating member for Ieleasably connecting the same to said operatingmeans, whereby said actuating member may be connected to or releasedfrom said operating means when desired,

and a wire line depending in said well tubing for suspending saidactuating member and said connecting means and controlling the operationof said actuating member and said connectingL means.

11. As a sub-combination in a Well fluid lifting system wherein a flowvalve is adapted tobe connected in a well flow pipe 'and has an inletport and an operating means for said valve, an actuating member for saidoperating means, a connecting and releasing device carried by andsupported from the actuating member, a resilient connection between saiddevice and said actuating mem-ber, the connecting and releasing deviceincluding a tubular housing for receiving a connecting member on theoperating means, a clutch assembly in said housing mounted on resilientmeans, said clutch assembly releasably engaging said connecting member,whereby said actuating member may be connected to and released from.said connecting member when desired.

12. A system of flowing well fluid in a well having a well casing and awell tubing within the casing including, a supply of lifting fluid insaid casing, a series of valves connected to the tubing for admittinglifting fluid from said casing into said tubing, surface controlledmeans reciprocably mounted in said tubing for actuating said valves, anoperating member for the lowermost valve and a tool carried by theactuating means for mechanically and releasably connecting totheoperating member, whereby said means and tool may be disengaged fromthe lowermost valve Whenever it is necessary to actuate one or all ofthe valves thereabove.

13. A system of flowing well fluid in a well having a well casing and awell tubing within the casing including, a supply of pressure liftingfluid in said casing above the liquid level therein,

unloading valves connected to the tubing, means mechanically andreleasably connected to said y admitting means, whereby said operatingmeans may be disengaged from said admitting means whenever it isnecessary tc actuate said unloading valves.

lJEDDY D. NIXON.

